Centrifugal separator.



No. 7l0,626. Patented Oct. 7, I902. W. B. SMITH.

GENTRIFUGAL SEPARATOR.

(Application filed. Jan. 25, 1902.)

(No Model.)

UNrrao STATES PATENT OFFICE.

\VILLIAM BLACKBURN SMITH, OF PERTH AMBOY, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO BLACKBURN SMITII COMPANY, OF JERSEY CITY, NEIV JERSEY, A

CORPORATION OF NEIV JERSEY.

CENTRIFUGAL SEPARATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent NO. 710,626, dated October 7, 1902. Application filed January 25, 1902. Serial No. 91,253- (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

2e it known that I, WILLIAn BLACKBURN SMITH, a subject of the King of England, and a resident of Perth Amboy, New Jersey, have 5 invented certain Improvements in Centrifugal Separators, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like numerals on the drawings designating like parts.

This invention has for its object the production of a centrifugal separator of high efficiency primarily intended for the separation of water, oil, 850., from steam and of a design rendering it particularly useful in connection :5 with marine engines; but it will be understood that I contemplate its utilization in any field whereit may be applied with advantage by reason of the nature of my improvements. These improvements lie principally in the line of durability of construction, convenience of access to the operating mechanism, and, of still greater importance, the provision for maximum centrifugal effect, secured in part by the novel construction of the rotating separating device and its chamber and in part by the means for delivering the surcharged fluid to the separating device in such a manner as to develop proper initial centrifugal tendency. The motor devices for actu- 0 ating the separating device have also received particular attention, and these with the various other features of my invention will be fully illustrated and described in the accompanying drawings and specification and 5 pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure l is a view in vertical longitudinal section of a centrifugal separator in the construction of which myimprovements have been embodied, the rotat- 4o ing parts being shown in elevation. Fig. 2 is a view thereof in rear elevation with the closure member removed; Fig. 3, a view in vertical section of the moving parts detached from their bearings, and Fig. 4: an enlarged 5 detail view of the antifriction-bearing.

In the embodiment of my invention selected for illustration and description as a convenient form to enable a ready and complete understanding of my improvements the part designated by the reference-numeral 1 may be called the body member and has an aperture 2, to which steam or other surcharged fluid maybe introduced from any suitable source, (not shown,) and this I will refer to hereinafter as the main passage. In communication with the main passage is the separating-chamber 3, of greatly-enlarged diameter relatively to the main passage and formed, preferably, with a large opening toward ihe rear, the closure of which to complete the chamber will be effected by a memher 4, provided in turn with passage 5 in continuation of and cooperating with the main passage to which reference has been made already, suitable fastening means 6, as bolts, being provided to secure the members 1 and 4 together.

A receptacle for the water or other product of separation will be provided, preferably, and may be conveniently cast integral with the body member of the casing, as shown at 7, in direct communication with the separating-chamber at the region 8 and having an outlet 9, through which the contents may be withdrawn, and, if desired, a gage 10 to afford a convenient indication of the operation of the separator.

Within the separating-chamber rotates the separating device 11, the principal operating part of which lies in the peripheral region of the chamber for the sake of high centrifugal efficiency, and for the same purpose I prefer to construct this principal operating portion in the form of a plurality of radial vanes 12, presenting forwardly-convex operating-surfaces 13, and I have shown as one-convenient support of these vanes a hub 14, cast integral with the vanes preferably for the sake of economy and strength. By narrowing the vanes slightly toward their extremities o 15, as illustrated, a concentration of the product can be secured and will be found desirable, inasmuch as it furthers smoothness of operation and aids in the discharge of the product, accomplished through a peripheral 5 duct 16, which opens into the receptacle at the points 17 and 1S.

An important feature of my invention is constituted by the means for delivery of the surcharged fluid to the separating device at a region of the latter Where the fluid will be operated upon with high initial centrifugal effect, and as one convenient embodiment of such means I have illustrated a baffle-plate 1!), which serves to stop the forward progress of the fluid through the main passage and to give it an initial radial bias before the fluid comes under the action of the separating de" vice. The efficiency of this baflie member will be very high when it is formed, as illustrated, in the shape of a concave cone, the base or periphery located medially, as at 20, within the separating member,with the blades or vanes of which the baffie member may, and preferably will, be cast integrally for economy and strength, although other suitable construction of the baffle member and connection thereof with the separating member may be adopted as found convenient. The bathe-plate when thus formed constitutes a sort of web-like enlargement of the hub 14: and may have apertures 21 for the sake of lightness and convenience in casting, and a reversed baffle and strengthening member 22 may be provided to direct the steam into passage 5, a web 23 serving to prevent eddying of the steam. I regard it of advantage to provide for a still earlier deflection of the surcharged fluid, and to this end I have shown a sort of antechamber or enlargement of the main passage at the region 24, in which is placed a deflecting member 25, which may be conical or of other suitable shape, supported suitably, as by arms 26, arranged between the deflecting member and the wall of the casing and for the sake of shapeliness and strength cast integrally with the conical member and casing, if so desired. WVith such an arrangement of the main fluid and separating chamber I have found it convenient to combine at timesa motor device for the separating member, which takes the form in the drawings of a set of rotating blades 27, set at an angle to the blades 26, which in their turn may be set at an angle to the axis of the passage, in order to provide an enhanced turbine-motor eifect. The member carrying the blades 27 may be connected to the separating device in any convenient and suitable manner; but the compactness and rigidity sought for will be served best by an integral formation, accomplished in the instance illustrated by casting the blades 27 upon a ring 28, joined to the baffle member at 29, the interior 30 of the ring being preferably left entirely open for the sake of lightness. It is not only desirable that the separating device, baffle member, and rotating member of the turbine shall be connected thus to form a unitary structure, since compactness and rigidity will be gainedthereby, but it will be seen that when thus formed the support of these devices can be accomplished very readily, as by the use of a journal-bolt 31, headed at 32 and supported by in a bearing 34, carried by arms 35, projecting from the walls 36 of the closure 4, a nut 37 serving to hold the journal detachably in place upon the closing member.

Other means of supporting the rotating parts may be adopted as desired and found suitable; but the means I have illustrated lend themselves readily to easyaccess to the moving parts, since it will be understood from the above description that whenthe closure member 4 is removed the moving parts, comprising the separating member, bafiie member, and rotary member of the turbine, will come away with it and may in their turn be detached for cleaning and inspection, for which purpose the body member will be left open also by the removal of the closure memher.

In operation the surcharged fluid entering the aperture 2 of the body member will pass between the stationary blades 26 of the turbine, strike the blades 27 of the rotary member, between which it willpass on against the baffle member and be delivered thereby beat the convex peripheral portion ofsaid vanes, and the centrifugal product will be turned off into the outer duct 16, while the steam or other fluid freed from the charge will pass around the periphery of the baffle member, as designated by the arrows in Fig. 3, on to the continuation of the main passage in the closure member, thence to the engine, 850.

Between the hub 14 and bearing 34 it will be found of advantage to interpose suitable antifriction devices to receive the thrust, and such a device is shown in the detail view, Fig. 4:, wherein a hardened bushing 38 presents a face or track 39, against which bear the balls 40, suitably supported between the track and hub 14:, as by a ring 41, confining them in a groove 42 in the hub, to which screws 43 secure the ring.

Having thus fully described my improvements, it will be understood that I do not limit myself to the specific embodiment of the invention utilized herein nor in general otherwise than as set forth in my claims read in connection with this specification.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a separator of the class described; an antechamber of larger diameter than the main passage; a separating-chamber of larger diameter than said antechamber; a centrifugal separating device of which the operating portion rotates in said separating-chamber; and means to insure delivery of the surcharged fluid to said separating device at a region of high centrifugal efficiency, substantially as described.

2. In a separator of the class described; a separating-chamber, of greatly-enlarged diameter relatively to the main passage, and of narrow depth; and a separator device rotatable therein and having radial vanes presenting forwardly-convex surfaces, substantially as described.

3. In a separator of the class described; a rotatable separating device; and a fluid-operated motor device therefor; the surcharged .tween the vanes of the deflecting member fluid being admitted first to said motor device, and thence delivered to said separating device, substantially as described.

4:. I11 a separator of the class described; a rotatable separating device of large diameter, slight depth, and high consequent centrifugal efficiency; and a turbine of lesser diameter, connected with, and to operate, said separating device, and actuated by the passage of surcharged fluid to the latter, substantially as described.

5. In a separator of the class described, the combination With a separating device rotatable in a chamberlarge in diameter relatively to the main fluid-passage; of bali'ling means arranged centrally with respect to said operating device, to enable delivery of surcharged fluid to said separating device with an initial radial bias.

6. The combination With a convex-vaned separator-Wheel, of a coaXially-arranged baffle member in the shape of a concave cone, the periphery whereof lies medially Within said vanes and adjacent their region of greatest initial centrifugal efficiency, said wheel and member cooperating in the manner and for the purpose substantially as set forth.

7. In a separator of the class described; a convex-vaned separating device; a turbine motor member rotatable therewith; and an intermediate baffle member to deliver fluid from said turbine member to the region of highest initial centrifugal efficiency of said separating device.

8. In a device of the class described; a rotating member comprising a vaned motorwheel; a vaned separator-wheel, and a ba'ffleplate; all connected and rotatable as a unitary structure upon a common axial bearing.

9. In a separator of the class described; a closure member having a main fluid-passage provided with a transverse spider carrying a bearing; combined with a journal secured to said bearing; and a separating member and motormember carried by and rotatable upon, said journal.

10. In a separator of the class described; a body member having a main fluid-passage with stationary motor-vanes, and a communicating chamber to receive a separating device; combined with a detachable member having a cooperating fluid-passage and a journal carrying a separating device to enter said chamber; and a rotatable set of motor-vanes also on said journal and presented thereby adjacent and to cooperate with said stationary motor-vanes, when said members are in place.

11. The combination in a separator of the class described; with a body member, having an inferiorly-situated receptacle, a chamber open on one side to receive a rotatable separating device, and afluid-duct to carry around to said receptacle the centrifugal product of said separating device; of a closure member, to close the open side of said chamber; and means to fasten said members together.

Signed at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, this 17th day of January, A. D. 1902.

WILLIAM BLACKBURN SMITH. Witnesses:

ALEXANDER O. PROUDFIT, MAUcn. SPILLANE. 

